Can weighing machine



R. E. J. NORDQUIST cm WEIGHI'NG cams March 18, 1941.

Filed Dec( 5, 1936 ATIORNE 5 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a I VENT R B SfMfl.

m5 mww QM Q RN Mardl 1941., R. E. J. NQRDQUIST CAN WEI-GHING MACHINE 3, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

Mara! 1 1' k. E; .1. nonouls-r 2 25 cm IWEIGHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mmh 18, 1941.

' R. E. J. NORDQ'UIST CAN WEIGHING IACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 arch 18; 1941. R. E. J. NORDQUIST 2,235,725

CAN WEIGHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fig: 10 I INVENTOR aY9M... Z Z% M744 ATTORNEY to acton a photo-electric cell associated with a slack fill discharge mechanism for removing these under-weight cans from the machine. The photoelectriccell when actedon sets a delay timing'device which causes the discharge mechanism to direct a blast of air against the detected slack filled can when it reaches the discharge end of the machine. The slack filled can is thus removed at the proper time and directed into a special discharge runway for refilling or other disposition.

Properly filled cans do not afiect the photoelectric cell since the ray of light is blocked off at such a time and air does not flow against the good cans as they pass by the slack filled discharge mechanism. At the discharge end of the machine the good cans areremoved by cam action and are rolled out into a full can runway for further distribution;

A preferred form of machine as illustrated in the drawingsincludes a can receiving and timing mechanism for receiving the cans A from any suitable source of supply such as a preceding machine or the like and for feeding them into the weighing machine in timed order. The cans are received horizontally, i. e. mi their sides, in a runway comprising pairs of vertically disposed spaced and parallel guides 2|, 22 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 10). The machine ends of these guides are bolted to a bracket 23 fastened on top of a main frame 24.

The cans fall by gravity from the machine end of the runway into pockets 21 of a rotating can timing turret 28, This turret is mounted directly under the runway on a horizontal shaft 29 which is iournaled in bearings 3| formed in the bracket 23.

The can timing turret 28 is rotated continuously in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2) by a chain 34 which takes over a sprocket 35 carried on the turret shaft 29. The chain is driven by a sprocket 26 mounted on a main drive shaft 31 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6) Journaled in bearings 32 formed in a drive shaft bracket 3! bolted to the side of 'the'bracket 23. Main shaft 21 is preferably the main driving shaft of the machine and is continuously rotated in any suitable manner, as by a belt pulley 4| thus driving the can turret 28 and the other parts of the machine in unison.

Rotation of the can timing turret 28 carries the cans individually into an inclined chute 45 (Fig. 2) which includes a sloping bottom plate 46 on which the cans roll from-the pockets 21 of the timing turret into the machine proper. Plate 46 is secured to an upper flanged edge 41 of the driving shaftbracket 39. Above the chute curved and sloping guide extensions 4| formed on the lower ends of the can guides 22 direct the moving cans in their movement along the bottom plate.

. Cans A as they leave the chute 46 are picked up by a continuously moving chain conveyor ll which lifts them into rolling position for further movement through the machine. The conveyor comprises a pair of spaced and parallel endless chains 52 which extend the full length of the machine. These chains are connected by spaced and parallel transverse rungs or rods 53 which set oila plurality of individual spaces or pockets l4 into which the cans are received. The rungs keep the pocketed cans separated and loosely confined so that they are free to roll on their sides.

The chains 82 are driven in unison and in time with the discharge of cans from the chute 45' so that the timed cans following in order will fall i individually-into successive pockets of the coneyor as it moves past the end of the chute. The hains are driven by spaced sprockets I! which are disposed at the can entrance end of the machine and are formed on a hub 51 mounted on the main drive shaft 31.

The top run of the chains 52 slopes downwardly at a slight angle.toward the discharge end of the machine where they take over a pair of spaced sprockets 58. These sprockets are bolted to a hub 59 (Fig. 10) which is mounted on a horizontal shaft 6| journaled in bearings 62 formed in brackets 63, 64 secured to the top of the main frame 24. The chains alsopass over a pair of spaced chain tightener sprockets 66 which are mounted on the outer ends of a short shaft 61 carried in a bearing 60 formed in an idler bracket 69. The idler bracket is adjustabiy bolted to a cam bracket I I which is secured to the bottom of the main drive shaft bracket 39.

Between the sprockets 56, 58 the chains 52 are supported in channels so that they will not sag and so that the rungs 53 will not in any way affect the weighing of the cans. Accordingly, the chains are guided by upper and lower longitudinal narrow channel rails I5 (Figs. 2, 10 and 11) which engage against the tops and bottoms of the chain links. These rails are riveted to upper and lower angle iron supports 16 (see also Fig. 1) which are disposed above and below the chains and which extend parallel therewith.

The ends of the supports 16 adjacent the sprockets 56 are bolted to transversely spaced uprights 'I'l formed on the side walls of the main shaft bracket 39. The opposite ends of the supports adjacent the sprockets" are bolted to transversely spaced uprights" which are formed on abracket 19 (see also Fig. 4) Bracket It is bolted to a cross-bracket 8| which in turn is fastened to the main brackets 63, 64. I

The cans A as they are retained in spaced and rolling condition by the conveyor ii are supported by and ride upon a pair of spaced and parallel 'angle iron tracks 83 which extend as far as the weighing device. These tracks are parallel with the chains and are therefore at a slight angle to the horizontal so that the cans will roll freely down the incline and toward the weighing device.

I ate with the conveyor chains during the time they are lifting the cans into rolling position.

The can tracks 83 terminate near the middle of the machine and adjacent a weighing platform 9| (Figs. 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9) of the weighing device across which the cans successively pass. The cans are guided across the platform by a pair of spaced and parallel guide members 92 (Fig. 6) each having a vertical leg 23 and a horizontal base 94, the latter, in effect, forming continuations of-the can tracks 82. The cans roll directly on sponge rubberrails OIv which are secured inthe bases 24 of the guide members. These rubber rails provide cushions for absorbing the shock and vibration of the roiling cans as they enter upon and roll across the weighing platform. 1

The weighing platform 9| is carried on th inner end of a'balance beam 8' (Figs. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8

and 9) whichis disposed t right angles to the above a predetermined limit of under-weight-or slack fill, the weight of the can substantially equalizes the resistance of the counter-balance spring III and therefore the can has no movingefl'ect on the balance beam. In such a case the weighing platform remains stationary or substantially so and in the full-weight can position as shown in Fig. 8.

Such a full-weight can after testing and when reaching the discharge end of the machine, is pushed ,or cammedout of its conveyor pocket 88 by the ends I8I of the tracks I58 as thecan rolls past. The can thus discharged passes into the full weight can discharge chute I82 and is directed to any suitable place of deposit. I

If acanAbeingtestedisslackfilled,i.e. light-weight to an amount less than the predetermined limit of under-weight, it cannot hold the platform balanced against the action of the counter-balance spring III. In other words, the lightness of the can permits the balance beam 88 to tilt on i-tsknife edges 88 under the action of the counter-balance spring. The outer end of the beam is thereupon drawn down while the weighing platform carrying the can moves up into the position shown in Fig. 9. The bell crank finger I41 in its raised position serves as a stop for limiting too great an upward movement of the platform.

This movement of the balance beam constitutes the act of weighing a slack-filled can and leads to the weight detection step referred to. Such beam movement immediately brings into eflfectiye action certain continuously moving delay timing devices which are associated with other can discharge instrumentalities. The letter when of the machine. This will now be explained.

The delay timing mechanism is set in motion by electric control devices (schematically shown in Fig. 5) which include a suitable photo-electric relay I12 having a photo-electric cell 118 connected thereto by wires I18, I15. A lamp I18 is connected to the relay by wires I11, I18, and an electro-magnet orv solenoid I18 is also connected to the relay by wires I8I I82. Electric energy is supplied to the relay and the parts assoelated therewith in any suitable manner as by lead wires I88, I88 and a service switch I85 which connect with a sourceof power such as a generator I88.

Such a photo-electric control is in itself a well known commercial article and provides for a beam of light emanating, for example, from the lamp I18 which striking on the photo-electric cell I18 will affect th solenoid I18. The solenoid may be energized or deenergized according to the arrangement of the circuits within the relay I12. In the present use of the control the solenoid is deenergized whereupon the resulting movementis utilized to properly direct the under-tilled can as desired.

In the form herein ilustrated the photo-electric cell I18 and the lamp I18 are mounted adbalance beam arm extension I88. The photoelectric cell is fully shielded except for a small .window I8I (Figs. 6 and 7) which is covered by the arm extension I88 during normal operation of theniachine as when full weight cans are plunger head. An expansion spring 2I8 located passing over the weighing platform. The beam of light from the lamp I18 is thus normally prevented from entering the photo-electric cell I18 and the solenoid I18 is maintained energized.

The tilting of the balance beam 88 under the I influence of a slack-filled can as has already been fully discussed causes the arm extension I88 to move out of the path of the light beam and thereby to uncover the cell window "I. The beam of light now striking upon the photo- 1 electric cell excites the latter and sets up a short circuit which deenergizes the solenoid I18.

The solenoid is vertically mounted adjacent the discharge end of the machine on an upright I82 (Figs. 1, 2, 10 and 11) which is formed on top of l the main frame bracket 88. A movable core I88 disposed within the solenoid extends above the top thereof and engages against the lower end of an expansion spring I88. Thespring is confined within a sleeve I88 formed on top of the 2 solenoid. The upper end of the sleeve is closed and carries a setscrew I88 for adjusting the pressure of the spring. De-energlzation of the solenoid permits the spring I88 to depress the core with a sudden snap action. 2

The lower end of the core I88 extends below the solenoid and is bifurcated. This end 01 the core is connected to a yoke I88 which is secured to the free end of a rocker arm I88 mounted on a pivot pin 28I carried in bearings 282 formed 8 in the upright I88 (Fig. 11). The arm extends into an opening 288 which is formed in the upright.

The rocker arm I88 may be considered the first element in the delay timing mechanism and a as the description proceeds it will be observed how the time lag is obtained from the initial movement of the solenoid core.

The rocker arm carries a horizontally positioned shouldered plunger 288 having an en- 4 larged head 281 disposed in a bore 288 formed in the arm. The plunger is slidably confined in the bore by a pin 2 secured in the arm end which extends through a slot 2I2 formed in the within the bore and surrounding the plunger bears against the head ,281 and tends to keep it extended beyond the forward end of the rocker arm..

Depression of the solenoid core I88 lowers the forward end .of the rocker arm I88 and brings the head 281 of the plunger 288 into alignment with a cam actuated hammer 2I8 (Figs. 1 and 10). The hammer is formed on one end of a lever 2I1 mounted on a vertical pivot shaft 2I8 carried in a bearing 2I8 formed in an arm 22| of the upright I82. The hammer end of the lever also carries a cam roller 228 which engages within a cam groove 224 of a cam 228 mounted on the continuously moving conveyor shaft 8|.

Cam groove 228 is formed with a plurality of undulations 228 which act upon the roller 228 to move the hammer 2I8 inwardly toward the plunger head 281 at the same time a can is passing .across the weighing platform II. Thus I when a slack-filled can causes the plunger head 281 to be lowered into alignment with the hammer, the latter strikes the end of the plunger and pushes it inwardly against the resistance of its spring 2I8.

This movement is transmitted to a transfer lever 228 which is mounted on-a pivot shaft 228 carried in bearings 28I formed on the upright I82. The lower end of the lever engages against a spring barrel 282 disposed in a bore 288 formed in the bracket 84 above the leeari igtj. The barrel carriesa spring 234 which exerts its force against the lever and hence keeps the u per end of the lever against the rear end of" the plunger 408. i it i it t Themov ing transfer lever 22liis disposed adjaeent attii ningrdrun 231 (Figsfl zi 10 and. 1 mounted on the continuously rotating conveyor shaft Bl which carries 1 the hammer cam 225, The drum earries a plurality oi timing i y are arranged in a (circle adjacent the peripher of thefdrum. These pinsnormallv project beyondthe side of the drum which is adjacent the transfeiyleveitt i Each t a s e d n rot ted: ve i o b a a poin ed oni al a ed spr n ar e t 41,; Wisi 1: 101) disposedat rightangles to the pin; in a radial -;bor.e M edJmt e dr mmed ex n io Qw1 P 1 14 w lo a e within t m fl .t s v.

keep; the latter extended with itsm p ntfid end.

eneagedtin a "groove z fl i formed inythe; pin.

The pin is thusyleldingly -conflned against latferal sliding movement, within its bushing 2 39 5 r; There isflonetiming pin; 2 38 f on eaph undula- Htionf226; of the hammer, cam: grooveifl l and the rotating drum 231 is so timed that when movem entof the transfert lever ZZB takes placeatiin- A:

ingmpim238 is inrline to be engaged and shiited.

This shifting of the pin; causes ilts rear end. to a project beyondqthel rear face of the drum v the spring barrel 2 tlsnapping out OPtheDinE 'OQ t 2M andentering into) an adjacent groove} 245.

The pin isnowheld yieldinglyibut firmly inithis extended positionhw All of these fnovemnts "take iplace suc cessively it ii-following the iloweringtof thelsolenoidvcore, I93

in its upperfPosit on! This niechanical raising "ofthe ebie' s effected even:edgeea ri-zar (Figs.

.t anavm lwhichmay be an inte' gfal partof 5o the cam :25; The edge"dani' fll is foi'i'ned with paced ridges 248 which engage against a cam 5 55in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig: 2) "with ftions beforeits corresponding weighed andfdeteoted slack-fllled can finally reaches a position thecamsh'oe 252 60f does arrive the extended timing pin engages and actuates a disch'arge element which blows the can out Ofits conveyor pocket 5! and into the i w 1 slack-fill canifsuchacanis detected 'atthe time wthepin again passesthe movement transfer lever .2281 Such replacementbf the pin as efl'ectedbv t astationary cam hlbck'zla (Figs.1,2,4and 10) adjacent the discharge chute] IBG. Wh'enthe can at the lbwer end of an air valve operating lever :53 mounted on a pivot 31111254 carried in bearings 255 KFigs24 and 11) formed in the crossbracket 81 Riding oi 'the extended pin238over the cam 75: escape and to im inge against- "the slaclgL-fllled a il The upper end of the lever carries j 70 a stud25 held by adjustable locknuts.

can. The valve is securedto the bottom of the Air under pressure is supplied to the valve by any suitable means as by way of a supply pipe 26! which is threaded into ,the valve casing. (indicated by the numeral262). {The pipe communicates with a chamber 263 formed in one end of the valve easing. A can! threaded into the end of thecasing provides oneend wall of the chamber. "I'heopp osit e wall is formed withan inner valve seat 265 which mergesintoa horizon'tal bore ZBBQ The outer end of the; bore is provided with an auxiliary valve seat 261 which merges into an enlarged bore 26$ aISO fQlILIIGdiR the" valve casingl The horizontal bore houses a'val ve stem 269 havingat its inner enda disc valve Zfll which is normally held against the inner ;valve seat 2&5 by

an egkpansion spring 212. Thi'sspringis' carried,

in'the capllfl; The opposite end of the'valve stem is provided withfan auxiliary disc valve or "head2l3 which is disposed in the enlarged bore 268adjacentthe v'alv'e seat 261; Thusltheifeare 'twofvalves on" the stern, one at each end, the inner valve being; normally closed and the outer norman open. The" outer valve is located in line withthe operatin g leverstud 2561f e The o ing operating 1ever2 53 uShesthe "valve stem 269 inwardly onto the tight as viewed its seat 265 permitting air imii uie pipe 261 and chamber 263 to ass into the horizontal bore 266.

At the sahietirhethe outeryalve "213 is seated against its seat 261' and this preventsescape oi under-weight can chute 166. e H

1 Thus whenthe escapingai r of the bpened'valve rushes out byway of the conduit-L 215, head 216 Theicar i is thereby lifted out of its pocket 51in itheic'onveyor 5'l andflblown into the can chute 566 as has alreadybeen described. It should beunderstobd'that this is done by a sharp blast of air,

slight rocking of the operating lever 253 wi1ich is only *held' in shifted position during the "short time' the extended-timing pinna is riding over The extended timing pin 238 havihgdoneits work, is pushed back into its original position so that it-willbe in plaee and ready'for another formed on a base 219which isbo1ted to the crosswbracket 8| "The extended end of the pin sweeps against the sideof the cam as the pin is carried pup and around byi'thetiming drum {231; This action pushes ins the pin where it is again held by thespringbarrel '24! engaging within the pingroovelllii i 1 It isthought that :the invention andmanyfoi i itsattendant advantages will be? understood from inFig. 2. Ihisseparates'the inne valve in from the 'air throughthat end of valve 'thus srvandholes 211 it impinges against the side of the 1 slack-filled canthenin line with the blower holes.

the valve beingonlymoment-arily opened by the thereof; This head is locatedunderthe curved ends: I6 I; of the can "tracks 158' and isfadjacent the' the foregoing description,'and it will be apparent invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being I a merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

- weight can has been moved by I claim:

1. In a can weighing machine, the combination of can tracks for supporting filled cans in rolling position, a continuously moving conveyor having pockets for loosely confining and separating cans received therein and for rolling them along said can tracks in a processiona. order, a weighing platform interposed in the path of travel of said cans for weighing each can as it rolls thereover. a balance beam supporting said weighing platform for detecting cans under a predetermined weight, a full weight can discharge chute disposed adjacent one end of said conveyor, an under-weight can discharge chute disposed adjacent said full weight can discharge chute and at a point remote from said weighing pi'atform, a cammed section contiguous with said can tracks for removing full weight cans from the conveyor after weighing and for depositing them intosaid full weight can discharge chute, discharge instrumentalities adjacent said under-weight discharge chute for discharging detected under-weight cans into its chute, and photo-electric elements operable by the under-weight can movement of said balance beam for causing actuation of said under-weight can discharge instrumentalities after said undersaid conveyor to said discharge chute.

2. In a can weighing machine, the combination of a can weighing platform, a balance beam supporting said weighing platform for detecting cans under-a predetermined weight, a. conveyor for moving cans tobe weighed onto and on of said platform, discharge devices including an air blast for removing under-weight cans from said conveyor at a point remote from said weighing platform, a swingin lever for actuating said air blast, photo-elec ric elements responsive to the under-weight can movement of said balance beam for causing actuation of said swinging lever and in turn said air blast to discharge from the machine such under-weight can, and timing devices controlled and actuated by said photo-electric elements forin turn engaging and actuating said swinging lever at predetermined intervals to cause the discharge of said under-weight can.

3. In a can weighing machine, the combina tion of a can weighing'platform, a balance beam supporting said weighing platform for detecting cans under a predetermined weight, an endless chain conveyor arranged to roll cans continuously in processional order across said platform forweighing them while moving,- a discharge station in the path of said conveyor and spaced from said weighing platform, discharge devices including an air blast at said discharge station for removing under-weight cans from said conveyor, a swinging lever for actuating said air blast, photo-electric elements responsive to the under-weight can I movement of said balance beam for causing actuation of said .swinging lever and in turn said air blast, and delaying actuation of' the latter until said under-weight can has been m ved by said conveyor from said weighing platform to said discharge station, and timing devices controlled and actuated by said photo-electric elementsl'or in turn engaging and actuating said swinging lever at predetermined intervals to cause the discharge of said under-weight can.

4. In a can weighing machine, the combination of a can weighing platform. a balance beam supporting said weighing platform for detecting cans under a predetermined weight, a conveyor for moving cans to be weighed onto and off of said platform, resilient can supporting means on saidweighing platform for absorbing shock and vibration of a can moving thereacross during weighing, a dischargestation in the path of said conveyor and spaced from said weighing platform, discharge devices at said discharge station for removing under-weight cans from said conveyor. an electro-magnet having a spring sctuated core for rendering operative said discharge devices, photo-electric elements operable by the under-weight can movement of 'said balance beam for causing actuation of said spring actuated core, and means automatically operative to enage said core and return the same to normal position after its actuation by said spring.

5. In a can weighing machine. the combination of a continuously moving longitudinallydisposed conveyor having can receiving pockets therein,- means for feeding cans to be weighed into said pockets respectively, a weighing plaftorm disposed in the path of said conveyor, means for temporarily holding said weighing platform against movement in full weight canposition while a can to be weighed is being, moved thereon and while a weighed can is being moved therefrom, a photo-electric cell for detecting the presence of alight-weight can on said platform, means including an air blast disposed in the path of said conveyor and spaced from said weighing platform for ejecting light-weight cans from the machine, and a rotary drum having transversely movable timing pins thereon ac therein, means for driving said conveyor, means for feeding cans to be weighed into said pockets respectively, a weighing platform disposed in the path of said conveyor,means for temporarilyholding said weighing platform against movement in full weigh can position. while a can to beweighed is being moved thereon and while a weighed can is being moved therefrom, said holding means being automatically operative to release said platform for a weighing operation after the can to be weighed has-been moved thereon, a photoelectric cell responsive to the position of said scale platform for detecting the presence of a lightweight can on said platform, means disposed in the path of said conveyor and spaced from said weighing platform for electing light-weight cans from the machine, and a rotary drum having transversely movable timing pins thereon controlled by an electro-magnet in turn actuated by said detecting means for actuating said ejecting means to discharge such detected light weight can after the latter has been moved by said conveyor into the path of said electing means.

7. In a can weighing machine, the combination of a continuously moving longitudinally disposed conveyor having can receiving pockets therein, means for feeding cans to be weighed into said pockets respectively, a weighing platform disposed in the path of said conveyor, means for temporarily holding said weighing platform against movement in full weight can position while a can to be weighed is being moved thereon and while a weighed can is being moved therefrom, said holding means being automatically operative to release said platform for a weighing operation after the can to be weighed has been moved thereon, a photo-electric cell responsive to the position of said scale platform for detecting the presence of a light-weight can on said platform, means including an air blast disposed in the path of said conveyor and spaced from said weighing platform for ejecting light-weight cans from the machine, and a rotary timing drum having movable timing pins thereon controlled by an electro magnet in turn actuated by said detecting means for actuating said air blast to discharge such detected light-weight can after the latter has been moved by said conveyor into the path of said air blast.

a In a can weighing machine, the combiuation of a can weighing platform, a balance beam supporting said weighing platform for detecting cans under a predetermined weight, compressed air discharge mechanism remotely disposed relative to said weighing platform for discarding such detected underweight cans by a blast of air, a conveyor for moving cans onto and off of said weighing platform for weighing and also for moving the weighed cans past said discharge mechanism, an air valve for controlling the actuation ofsaid mechanism, delay timing devices including a rotary timing drum having transversely movable pins thereon for operating said air valve only for a detected underweight can and only when such a can reaches said mechanism, and photo-electric elements responsive to movement of said balance beam caused by detection or an underweight can for controlling the actuation of said movable pins to operate said air valve to discharge a said detected underweight can from the machine.

RONAID E. .l. NORDQUIST. 

